Projects

Humanizing questions. Exploration of the existential dimension in psychiatry through research on demoralization in patients with schizophrenia. 

(Doctoral thesis offered to obtain the degree of Doctor of Psychological Sciences, 2019). Supervisors: Prof. dr. Jozef Corveleyn and Prof. dr. Bernard Sabbe (UAntwerp). Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. Patrick Luyten.

Background In patients with a severe psychiatric disorder, it is ...

Summary

Heidi Pellens (2025). The existential layers of depression: An exploration of depression as an affective, embodied and relational experience.

Supervisor: Prof. dr. Vanhooren, Co-supervisors: Prof. dr. Jessie Dezutter, Prof. dr. Patrick Luyten

In depression, difficulties in the ability to experience meaning are central in clients' experiences. Earlier empirical research has demonstrated the link ...

A phenomenon that receives increasing interest in society is that of older adults who experience their life as completed and of no value anymore. This phenomenon is labeled ‘tiredness of life’ (ToL) but very little empirical knowledge of what ToL is, seems currently available and no insight seems present for nursing home residents (NHRs), a growing population in western societies. Therefore, the IDN project ...

Tiredness of life, completed life or life fatigue in the elderly population is a complex problem that is currently receiving attention in the wider society, but on which little scientific research has been done. The phenomenon is also characterized by a conceptual vagueness and overlaps with other age-related problems such as depression and existential suffering. The ClarEToL project aims to achieve a thorough ...

I also attach the summary as a separate pdf-file because it allows me to work with clear formatting:  Description of the research proposal - Wouter Schepers 1. Content My PhD research is part of a broader SBO project on tackling loneliness from a spatial perspective. Therefore, it is important to first outline the broader context of this SBO project. Afterwards, I will elaborate on my specific doctoral ...

Worldwide, the population is ageing rapidly, with life expectancy rising due to advancements in healthcare, public health measures, and living conditions. As a result, palliative care has become increasingly important. Spirituality is recognized by the WHO as well as the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) as an essential domain of palliative care. It is described as ‘the dynamic dimension of human ...

In this doctoral thesis, we studied the phenomenology of psychosis. Our starting point was that in research there is a lack in first-person descriptions of psychosis. Thereby, we questioned whether concepts and hypotheses actually correspond to the experience or phenomenology of psychosis and argued that we need to study experiences of psychosis as they are described and lived through by individuals that can give firsthand ...

Loneliness is increasingly recognized as an important societal challenge, which is put high on the Flemish policy agenda the last few years. It is not only important because of its high prevalence
rates, but also because loneliness is strongly related to numerous health problems (e.g. depression), higher health care expenditure, and has a negative impact on quality of life. Moreover, the
restrictive measures taken to deal with the ...